Jobbie Nooner starts off on sour note with man's death

Before the party even started, a man of about 27 was found dead by a campfire on Gull Island just hours before the annual Jobbie Nooner event began on Friday, said Chief Don Drake of the Clay Township Police Department.

One Friday a year at the end of June, people come from miles to "thank God it's Friday." The gathering is known for its extravagant partying off Lake St. Clair at Gull Island, near Harsens Island in St. Clair County. The term refers to auto workers, known as "jobbies," playing hooky from work for a "nooner" of bikinis and drinking.

During a pre-party camp-out on the island last night, a group of partygoers celebrated before crashing out for the night. One of them woke and discovered a friend had stopped breathing. They said they attempted CPR, but failed to revive him before calling 911.

A team of law enforcement officers from Clay Township was on the scene at 4:41 a.m. in response to the call. The medical examiner's office is attempting to contact his family before releasing the deceased man's name.

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Alcohol may have been a factor in his death, Drake said.

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon and his deputies were among many law enforcement agencies, including Canadian authorities, patrolling the area.

Clay Township and New Baltimore police departments, Ontario Provincial Police, Tri Hospital, U.S. Coast Guard, St. Clair County Marine Division, St. Clair and Macomb county sheriff's deputies were all out in force, said St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon. Donnellon said the strong police presence would, most likely, keep the festivities safe.

"I would hope it would be a deterrent," he said. "It also gives us help if we need it."

St. Clair County Sheriff medical and death investigators and the county medical examiner are still looking into the case.

"An autopsy is pending," said Mary Palmateer, St. Clair County medical examiner coordinator. "We will send out toxicology testing and it usually takes about eight to 10 weeks to receive these results back. Depending on what is found at autopsy it is possible that the cause of death will be pending until then."